Combined roll-carrier and haversack.



F. G. HARRIMAN. COMBINED ROLL CARRIER AND .HAVBRSAGK.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 8, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18,1910.

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. in place; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the UTTD STAT FREDERICK CHARLES HARRIMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED ROLL-CARRIER AND HAVERSACK.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1909,

Patented Jan. 18, 1910. Serial No. 506,447. I

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CHARLES HARRIMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Roll-Carrier and Haversack, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to produce a light-weight, durable, and low-cost carrier for military rolls, and also haversacks, when desired; the roll being held vertically of and opposite the wearers spine, with its lower end supported between the buttocks.

It is well known that infantrymen frequently throw away their packs to get rid of the strain of the load, and that the various packs generally used are of a form which causes the weight to come on the body opposite the kidneys, often to the physical detriment of the soldier. To distribute the load evenly on those parts of the body which can best support it without injury, and to support the load, whether made up of the roll alone or of the roll and haversack, with or without the rifle, in such wise that it does not tend to pull the soldier backward but rather to make him stoop forward somewhat, and so better carry the load, are among the purposes and advantages of this invention.

One of many possible forms is shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating the principle of the invention and the best mode now known to .me of applying that principle, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of the carrier or sling in use, with roll and haversack haversack in place on the top of the roll; Fig. 3 is a view of the carrier detached; and Fig. l is a side elevation of one of the two saddle-bags comprising the form of haverl sack shown.

In the drawings, the carrier comprises a pair of webs or straps 1 and 2 which are secured together at the back, preferably by stitching, as shown at 50, so as to make the carrier lighter than it would be if the straps were riveted. The webs l and 2 are stayed and strengthened by the upper and lower roll-holding straps 3, 3, which are best stitched to the webs at 00 for reasons stated,

and preferably by an intermediate roll-holding strap l. The ends of the roll-holding straps may of course be tied, but are preferably provided with buckles 5.

One strap, (the right shoulder strap 1,) commences at a point well below the right armpit on a line about opposite the lower right rib, and thence extends forward and upward over right shoulder and down the back, on a slant to the left, to a pointto the left of and slightly above the end of the spine; and thence upward and forward, on the left side, to a. point well below the left armpit, about opposite the lower left rib, where it is joined to the other or left shoulder strap 2 by a buckle or other device 6. The left shoulder strap 2 starts at a point well below the left armpit, about opposite the lower left rib, where it connects with the right shoulder strap, and thence extends forward and upward over the left shoulder and down the back on a slant to the right, crossing the right shoulder strap 1 at a point opposite the spine where the two shoulder straps are attached to each other; thence continuing on a slant to the right to a point to the right of and slightly above the end of the spine, and thence upwardly and forward to a point well below the right armpit about opposite the lower right rib,where it is attached to the right shoulder strap 1 by a buckle or other device 6. The three rollholding or bearing straps 3. 3 and at are attached to the straps 1 and 2, the upper one at about the height of the rear of the shout ders, the intermediate one about half way' down the back, and the lower one at about a point slightly above the end of the spine. These three binding straps have buckles on their ends, and are to bind the roll D, which, when made, should extend from a point slightly above the shoulders to about the end of the spine, up and down the back, about opposite the spine, the lower end resting between the buttocks and not opposite the kidneys. By this construction and arrangement the blanket, poncho, etc., can be carried with great ease and comfort; the buckles below the armpits can be adjusted so as to fit men of varied lengths of body; and the weight of the military or other load is evenly distributed. Both arms are left free for all movements, with the chest unconstricted and unweighted, as is not now the case with the military rolls worn horse-shoe shape over one shoulder, with one leg of the roll down the back and the other across the chest. The military roll as now worn often interferes with the free movement of the arms. interferes with breathing, interferes with the manual of arms, and becomes readily displaced when the wearer is pushing through brush or in a stooping position.

The haversack H is one of many forms of haversacks that may be carried with the roll, but the present form possesses the ad vantage of evenly distributing its lead. It consists of a pair of bags 10, 10 connected by a sort of saddle 11 that rests on the upper end of the roll with the bags hanging down 011 each side of it. Each bag is provided with an upturned hook 12, on its under side, the hooks being adapted to catch under the upper roll-holding strap 3. A strap 13 on one bag connects with a buckle 14L on the other, the strap and buckle forming the saddle which holds the haversack in place at the top of the roll. The strap 13 and buckle 14: are coupled. and drawn taut over the upper end of the roll. 'the bags are best made with extension-bellows sides but may be of any shape. Each bag is made with a top flap or cover 16 that is provided with a strap 17 for connection with a buckle 18 on the bag side. The two bags 10 are provided with loops 15). near their bottoms. and a take-up strap 20 passes through these loops and around the roll to hold the bags in place at their lower ends. Strap 20 has a buckle 21. The haversack is thus detachably connected with the roll and carrier.

As above indicated. the principle of this invention is the suspension of the pack in long form, roll-wise. down the middle of the back. in which position it is easily and conveniently borne. with advantages not here tofore obtained from any known mode or means of equipment.

By this invention. the bottom end of the roll comes opposite the buttocks. and. resting in part thereon. relieves the loins and kidneys of the strain incident to use of the horseshoe-shaped roll now commonly worn Over one shoulder and across the back and breast.

It is a well established military t'act that soldiers have frequently thrown away their packs or blankets of the horse-shoe type be cause of the great strain brought upon their loins and kidneys in wearingsuch packs. and the general inconvenience thereof. The older rectangula knap-sacks were generally carried in such wise, as stated in the Short patent No. 33,726, that the whole weight of it is brought directly upon the shoulders and across the back of the neck. In the Carr patent No. 510,239. the knapsack supported partially on the shoulders and partially-by a strap over the forehead. The Drake patent No. 37.029 provides for the carrying of a rectangular knapsack which is provided with a back-plate of thick leather to rest flat-wise on the back of the person and across his shoulder-blades. It has shoulder-straps and also other straps for holding a cloak or the like transversely. and not vertically. ot' the wearers spine.

What I claim is:

l. A military or other roll-carrier comprising rearwardly joined back straps and transverse upper and lower roll-holding straps connected to the back straps at rear portions thereof. the back straps also formingshoulder. breast and side straps; and means t'or coupling. at each opposite side portion of the carrier. the opposite ends 01 each strap. the back straps crossing one another and diverging upwardly from their junction and passing; over the shoulders. and said back straps also diverging downwardly from their junction and passing the sides of the wearer: and said back straps and trans verse straps being; arranged to support and hold a roll vertically. opposite the spine of he wtmrcr. so that the roll may be borne down the middle of the back; and a roll mounted and held vertically by said back and transverse straps.

2. The combination with a military or other roll-carrier comprising rearwardly joined back straps and transverse upper and lower roll-holding straps connected to said straps at rear portions thereof. the back straps also formingshoulder. breast and side straps: and means for coupling". at each 0pposite side portion of the carrier. the opposite ends of each strap: of a roll held vertically of the carrier by said transverse straps: a haversack at the upper end of the roll: means for detachably connecting it to the carrier. and means for holding it in place at the upper end of the roll.

ln testimony whereo't l have atlixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK CHARLES HARRTMAN. lVitnesses E. S. Bnaon. F. E. Name. 

